Engaging mechanism for a folding apparatus of a treadmill

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an engaging mechanism for a folding apparatus of a treadmill that is adapted to apply an appropriate locking force to a slidable pushing assembly of the folding apparatus such that an unexpected false pushing action caused by the driving behavior of a slope adjusting support by the lifting motor is prevented when the platform frame of the treadmill is moved in a horizontal operational position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Fields of the Invention

The invention relates to an engaging mechanism for a folding apparatusof a treadmill, and more particularly, to an engaging mechanism thatprevents the folding apparatus from an unexpected false action.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the application Ser. Nos. 11/900,042 and 11/866,999, the inventor ofthe invention has developed a folding apparatus of a treadmill thatpermits an easy folding of the platform frame in an upright position andeven an easy folding of a handrail assembly. In this way, a completefolding is achieved. It is apparent that the inventor has made everyeffort to enhance the practicality and convenience of the product in theactual use. However, the inventor still found that it is likely tocreate a certain extent of sway on the platform frame and the handrailassembly due to the existence of the folding apparatus, thereby causingusers to have little psychological anxiety and misgivings when theplatform frame of the treadmill is moved in a horizontal operationalposition and the user wants to employ the lifting motor and the slopeadjusting support to adjust the exercise slope.

In fact, any treadmill having a folding apparatus for providing anauxiliary force creates a varying degree of sway when the mechanism foradjusting the exercise slope is operated. The slight sway won't harm theoperators. In order to eliminate the misgiving of the operator in use, afurther solution is developed again.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary object of the invention to eliminate the above-mentioneddrawbacks and to provide an engaging mechanism for a folding apparatusof a treadmill that avoids the above-mentioned swaying phenomenon so asto enhance the structural stability in using the treadmill. In this way,the operator does not have additional mental burden andapprehensiveness.

According to the invention, an engaging mechanism for a foldingapparatus of a treadmill is provided to apply an appropriate lockingforce to any element of a slidable pushing assembly of the foldingapparatus (including the rear support, the slide pusher, the pneumaticcylinder, the coupling rod, or the secondary coupling rod) such that anunexpected false pushing action caused by the driving behavior of aslope adjusting support by the lifting motor is prevented when theplatform frame of the treadmill is moved in a horizontal operationalposition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accomplishment of this and other objects of the invention willbecome apparent from the following description and its accompanyingdrawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG. 1 with the illustration of the operation;and

FIG. 4 is a side view of FIG. 1 in a folded position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention will now be described in more detail hereinafterwith reference to the accompanying drawings that show variousembodiments of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 in which a preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated, a platform frame 10 includes a transmissionmotor 11 at one side thereof for driving a continuous moving belt (notshown) into rotation by use of a transmission belt 12, a front roller13, and a rear roller 14. Meanwhile, a lifting motor 15 is employed tomove an adjusting support 16 upward and downward for adjusting thesupporting angle of the platform frame 10. Moreover, two connection pins17, 18 are disposed at both sides of the platform frame 10,respectively, for pivotally coupling a handrail assembly 19 and a rearsupport 20, respectively.

Moreover, a slide pusher 22, to which a pneumatic cylinder 21 applies apushing force, is interposed between a first and a second strengtheningbar 101, 102. The other end of the slide pusher 22 is pivotallyconnected to the rear support 20. Besides, a coupling rod 23 isinterposed between the rear support 20 and the handrail assembly 19. Asa result, the handrail assembly 19 can be folded up by the coupling rod23 in cooperation with a crossbar 24. Thus, a folding apparatus of atreadmill is created by the above-mentioned components.

One side of the slide pusher 22 is provided with a secondary couplingrod 25 synchronically movable therewith. An engaging mechanism 30 ispositioned adjacent to a cross lug 26 at the read end of the secondarycoupling rod 25. As a result, the engaging mechanism 30 applies acertain locking force to the secondary coupling rod 25 when the platformframe is brought in a horizontal operational position.

The engaging mechanism 30 consists of an operating lever 31 pivotallydisposed at a certain place of the platform frame 10, a coupling lockpiece 32, and an elastic element 33. Meanwhile, a locking groove 34 ofthe coupling lock piece 32 is formed such that the cross lug 26 of thesecondary coupling rod 25 can firmly engage into the locking groove 34.Accordingly, an expected engaging effect can be achieved.

Now, please refer to FIG. 3. When the operator wants to fold up theplatform frame 10, he only requires to move the operating lever 31 todetach the cross lug 26 of the secondary coupling rod 25 from thelocking groove 34 of the second transmission gear 32. In this way, thefolding apparatus can regain its original effect (see FIG. 4) withoutcreating any negative interference.

Likewise, when the platform frame 10 descends from its upright fold-upposition to its horizontal operational position, the cross lug 26 of thesecondary coupling rod 25 slides over a slanting guide surface 35 of thecoupling lock piece 32. Under the influence of the coupling lock piece32, the cross lug 26 automatically engages into the locking groove 34 inan engaged state. Accordingly, the above-mentioned adverse effect can becompletely avoided when the operator employs the lifting motor 15 andthe adjusting support 16 for adjusting the exercise slope.

As shown in FIG. 5, the pneumatic cylinder 24 according to the inventioncan be pivotally attached to the rear end of the slide pusher 23. Thismay achieve the same effect.

Most of components of the folding apparatus have varying degree of slipphenomenon in operation. The engaging mechanism in accordance with theinvention can work with any one element of the slidable pushingassembly, including the rear support 20, the slide pusher 22, thepneumatic cylinder 21, the coupling rod 23, or the secondary couplingrod 25, to create the same effect by the same assembly principle.

Many changes and modifications in the above-described embodiments of theinvention can, of course, be carried out without departing from thescope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the progress in science and theuseful arts, the invention is disclosed and is intended to be limitedonly by the scope of the appended claims.

1. (canceled)
 2. A folding apparatus of a treadmill having a platformframe with a transmission motor at one side thereof for driving acontinuous moving belt into rotation by use of a transmission belt, afront roller, and a rear roller, a lifting motor being employed to movean adjusting support upward and downward for adjusting the supportingangle of the platform frame, two connection pins being disposed at bothsides of the platform frame, respectively, for pivotally coupling ahandrail assembly and a rear support, respectively, wherein a slidepusher, to which a pneumatic cylinder applies a pushing force, isinterposed between a first and a second strengthening bar while theother end of the slide pusher is pivotally connected to the rearsupport, whereupon a coupling rod is interposed between the rear supportand the handrail assembly; accordingly, the handrail assembly may befolded up by the coupling rod in cooperation with a crossbar; andwherein one side of the slide pusher is provided with a secondarycoupling rod synchronically movable therewith, and wherein an engagingmechanism is positioned adjacent to a cross lug of the secondarycoupling rod, the cross lug extending from opposite sides of thesecondary coupling rod in a direction perpendicular to the secondarycoupling rod, and wherein the engaging mechanism is configured toselectively apply a certain locking force to the secondary coupling rodby selectively engaging both the secondary coupling rod and the crosslug when the platform frame is brought in a horizontal operationalposition.
 3. A folding apparatus of a treadmill having a platform framewith a transmission motor at one side thereof for driving a continuousmoving belt into rotation by use of a transmission belt, a front roller,and a rear roller, a lifting motor being employed to move an adjustingsupport upward and downward for adjusting the supporting angle of theplatform frame, two connection pins being disposed at both sides of theplatform frame, respectively, for pivotally coupling a handrail assemblyand a rear support, respectively, wherein a slide pusher, to which apneumatic cylinder applies a pushing force, is interposed between afirst and a second strengthening bar while the other end of the slidepusher is pivotally connected to the rear support, whereupon a couplingrod is interposed between the rear support and the handrail assembly;accordingly, the handrail assembly may be folded up by the coupling rodin cooperation with a crossbar; wherein one side of the slide pusher isprovided with a secondary coupling rod synchronically movable therewith,and wherein an engaging mechanism is positioned adjacent to a cross lugat the rear end of the secondary coupling rod, the cross lug extendingfrom opposite sides of the secondary coupling rod in a directionperpendicular to the secondary coupling rod, and wherein the engagingmechanism is configured to selectively apply a certain locking force tothe secondary coupling rod by selectively engaging both the secondarycoupling rod and the cross lug when the platform frame is brought in ahorizontal operational position; and wherein the engaging mechanismconsists of an operating lever pivotally disposed at a certain place ofthe platform frame, a locking piece, and an elastic element, and whereina locking groove of the coupling lock piece is formed such that thecross lug of the secondary coupling rod is firmly engaged in the lockinggroove.
 4. An engaging mechanism for a folding apparatus of a treadmillas claimed in claim 3, wherein the coupling lock piece of the engagingmechanism includes a slanting guide surface opposing to the secondarycoupling rod such that the cross lug of the secondary coupling rodslides over the slanting guide surface into the locking groove.